Japan's Fukushima Discharge... What Is the Korean Government's Response?

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. (Photo by Japan Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)·Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As the Japanese government has settled on a plan to release contaminated water stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant site into the ocean, attention is focused on the South Korean government's response. There is a growing demand to stop the contaminated water before it seeps into the sea.

The international environmental protection organization Greenpeace announced on the 12th that the final report submitted on the 10th by the Expert Subcommittee on Contaminated Water Treatment of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recommended a plan to release about 1.2 million tons of contaminated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean.

It is reported that the decision has effectively been made to discharge the water, citing that marine discharge is easier to monitor radiation and operate facilities than atmospheric release.

If radioactive contaminated water is discharged into the ocean, it is expected to affect the global ecosystem. Contrary to the Japanese government's claim that diluting the contaminated water to below standard levels before discharge is safe, the total amount of radioactive substances being released remains unchanged.

Kazue Suzuki, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Japan Office, stated, "Although the discharge standards are met when the contaminated water is diluted, the total amount of lethal substances such as Strontium-90 remains unchanged, so permanent marine pollution cannot be avoided."

Jang Mari, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Seoul Office, said, "Although there is a procedure to obtain consent from Fukushima citizens, it is not sufficient to stop the Japanese government's contaminated water discharge plan, so the South Korean government's decision on an international legal response must be made promptly."

The South Korean government has publicly declared an absolute opposition to the marine discharge of contaminated water and is currently analyzing the detailed contents of the report. The Office for Government Policy Coordination has formed a task force (TF) team with related ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to respond.

The consensus is that Japan's position must be changed by no later than August 2022, as the contaminated water storage tanks are expected to reach saturation by then.

Since last September, the government has been trying to resolve the issue through international cooperation, including raising the Fukushima contaminated water issue at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.

The marine radiation monitoring system around the Korean Peninsula is also being strengthened. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission regularly collects seawater samples from 32 offshore points to inspect for radioactive contamination and operates 19 coastal automatic monitoring devices.

The ruling party also made statements condemning Japan. On the 13th, the day after Greenpeace's announcement, Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The Japanese government must never discharge Fukushima contaminated water."

At a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Lee said, "Although the Japanese government's final decision remains, this recommendation has confirmed Japan's policy to discharge contaminated water into the sea. Implementing measures that permanently pollute the ocean, a common home for humanity, without consulting neighboring countries is irresponsible," he criticized.